India has forecast a record grain harvest but experts warned Wednesday farm productivity would have to rise much faster to feed the nation of 1.1 billion people and avert a food security crisis.
Food grain production in the crop year ended March 31, 2008 would total a record 227.32 million tonnes with output of rice, wheat, pulses, oilseeds and other crops also beating previous highs, the government said. "This will be record production," said Agriculture Secretary P.K. Mishra, crediting "well-distributed rain, distribution of better seeds under the national food security mission and good temperatures."
The 2008 wheat harvest would hit 76.78 million tonnes, up from an earlier projected 74.81 million tonnes, and 75.81 million tonnes in 2007. Rice output would also hit a new high, climbing to 95.68 million tonnes from 94.08 million tonnes estimated earlier and 93.6 million tonnes recorded the previous year.
Commodity specialists called the announcement welcome but noted the overall output jump from the previous year was only 4.6 percent and said a food security crisis loomed unless the government acted swiftly to boost yields. Far greater effort was needed to ensure food security for the world's second most populous nation as foodgrain productivity was not keeping pace with population growth.